Tape dispensing means



Dec. 3, 1940. T. R. GAUTIER TAPE DISPENSING MEANS Filed May 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l mm @www m Dec. 3,` 1940.

T. R. GAUTIER TAPE DIsPENsING MEANS Filed May 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @y ,EM mwa/ww www Patented Dec. 3, 1940 TAPE nrsrnNsnvo. MEANS Trevor R. Gautier, Nashua, N.' H., assigner to Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company, Nashua, N. II., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 14, 1937, Serial No. 142,668

13 Claims. (Cl. 164-43) My present invention relates to machines and devices for serving or dispensing adhesive or gummed tape for packaging, sealing, labeling and like purposes. More particularly the invention aims to simplify and otherwise improve the The rear compartment has bottom cross pieces 1, 8 extending between the side walls and having oppositely inclined portions, in the general manner as seen in Fig. 2, for retaining the tape roll R in position lengthwise its compartment and construction of devices of the class described, against coasting, the tape being tensioned, durwith special reference to their ease of mainteing draft upon it. by the action of gravity on the nance in a clean, eicient operating condition, roll itself. Cushioned supporting feet 9 may be and with a view to rendering such devices uniprovided for the housing and machine as a versally adaptable to various use requirements. Whole. 10

In the drawings illustrating by way of example The housing, including the parts above mencertain embodiments of the invention; tioned, may be formed as an integral one-piece Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of machine casting, as in the illustrated example, or may be or device in accordance with the invention; otherwise constructed. While obviously the ma- Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken chine may be made in various sizes and dimen- 15 substantially centrally through the device of sions, that shown in Figs. 1 t0l 5, Which gllreS Fig. 1; are substantially full scale, is especially designed l Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 4for dispensing the narrower sizes of tape. Stand- 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking toward the rear of the ard Widths of tape for the purposes here con- -machine, that is, toward the right in Fig. 2; cerned are generally 1/2 inch, 1% inch, 1 inch, 2(

Fig. 4' is a side Ielevation of the tape feeding 1% inches and 11/2 inches, of which the 1 inch and guiding unit or assembly, viewed separately; and 11/2 inchv widths are the two most common.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one ofthe rotary feed With these relatively narrow sizes, the tape is elements of said assembly; and customarily rolled with its gummed side out. In

Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive illustrate a further emsuch case the roll R is set into the well 5 with its 2l bodiment of the invention wherein leading end, as indicated at T in Fig. 2, in posi- Figs. 6 and 'I are views corresponding to Figs. tion to extend upwardly and forwardly from the l and 2, bottom of the roll.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section through the The tape T coming from the supply is forwardupper portion of the machine as upon the line ed for moistening and delivery at the front of 3l 8-8 of Fig. 6, the machine by means of a feeding and guiding Fig. 9 is a similar cross section on the line 9-9 assembly or unit, seen separately in Fig. 4, hereof Fig. 6, A in arranged to overlie and provide a cover for Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the main element the front compartment 6. Said means .herein or bottom plate of the tape feeding and guiding comprises a bottom plate or platform Il and a 35 means, seen separately, and top plate or guide I2.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating The bottom plate II is substantially rectanthe optional provision of a movable knife for gular and of a Width to be received flatwise on use in combination with the means of the prethe upper edges of the housing side Walls I, de-

ceding figures. sirably coming substantially flush with the outer 40 While in certain of its aspects my invention is faces of the latter but avoiding objectionable applicable to general use in the delivery of irregular formations and projections at the sides lengths of adhesive or gummed tape in condition of the machine. When in operative position this for application, it is more particularly concerned bottom plate extends forwardly over the front with machines of the hand-operated type for use compartment 6 substantially to the moistening 45 on store counters, at parcel Wrapping stations, element to be referred tto. Its rear end is exin shipping rooms and like places. tended for reception between'elevated portions or Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, the machine as shoulders Ia of the side walls and is turned downthere shown comprises a frame or housing inwardly as at I3, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, to form a lip cluding spaced side walls I, I, a rear wall 2, a for receiving and guiding the tape and to assist 50 front wall 3 and an intermediate cross wall or in positioning the plate longitudinally. partition 4 dividing the housing into a rear comsaid bottom plate is additionally held in Yop- Partment or well 5 f0r the tape Supply roll R and erative position by the top plate I2, `which coma front compartment 6 accommodating the prises a main top wall or plate member yproviding moistening and feeding means to be described. an overguide for the tape and forming with the bottom plate a tape feed channel. At its opposite sides this top plate I2 is down-turned to provide retaining side walls or edge guides I4, Il for the tape channel. Along their major extent said side portions I4 of the top plate rest on and are supported by the top face of the bottom :plate |I. At a convenient location, desirably at or somewhat forwardly of the mid-length portion f the top plate, the latter is formed with integrally or otherwise connected holding elements. These are illustrated as spring retaining fingers or clips I5, I5, oppositely disposed at the two 'sides of the top plate and connected to it by flanges I6. At a convenient point below the flanges I5 each clip is formed with an inwardly directed projection or nubbin I1 adapted to snap into and set firmlyA in a. corresponding recess I8 in the adjacent side wall I. The lower ends of the clips I5 desirably are turned outward as at I9, to facilitate removal and replacement of the feed and guide assembly as a unit.

It will be noted, particularly with reference to Fig. 3, that the sideedges of the bottom plate are releasably held down on the top edges of the housing side walls I by said ang'es I6 of the top plate. If preferred, and as* illustrated, the bottom and top plates and I2 may be secured together as by the connecting ears I2 projecting downwardly from the vertical side walls I4 of the top plate, passing through corresponding apertures in the bottom plate and bent, as by twisting them about a vertical axis as represented in Fig. 3, into locking position.

For advancing the tape from the supply, the top plate I2 has an open section or feed slot 20 through which the upper face of the tape may be engaged, as by the operators finger, to project its leading end beyond the guide channel, where it may be grasped and drawn out by the operator to any further extent desired. Since the tape passes through the feed channel with its gummed face down there is a tendency, particularly under humid atmospheric conditions, for the tape to stick to the bottom plate at some point or points, especially after standing in the channel for some period. Such tendency is accentuated during the initial part of each feeding operation, when the operators finger is pressed on the tape.

To overcome this difficulty and afford free starting and service of the tape I have provided movable carrier means in association with the bottom plate, opposite the feed slot 20, the bottom plate having a centrally disposed cut-out formation for the reception of said means. As herein illustrated the latter comprises a plurality of rotary elements or rolls, each including an axially aligned series of disks or wheels 2|, 'those of each series being supported on a corresponding shaft 22. As clearly seen in Fig. 3 and also in the detail Fig. 5, each shaft 22 has concentric pintles or end bearings 23 received inA corresponding apertures in down-turned anges 2l on the bottom plate at the side edges of said cut-out formation IIB. Any desired number of the disk elements 2| may be provided, in equi- ;paced distribution lengthwise the rolls, depending on the length of the latter and the width bf disk employed. 'I'he disks 2| are so proportioned and supported that their upper portions or crests are in or'project slightly above the plane of the bottom plate II and'accordingly tend to elevate the tape and prevent it from adhering to the bottom plate.

It is desirable to provide sunicient undersup- 75 )port for the tape opposite the feed slot 20 to 'prevent it from being creased or indented when the operator presses a finger or fingers on itvto advance it. In order therefore to afford the maximumof supporting' surface both lengthwise and transversely of the tape and to avoid objectionab1e\ depressions or troughs between the crests of t e various disks, those of one roll or rotary element are arranged in staggeredv and intermeshing relation to those of .the adjoining vroll or rolls. Thus the crests'of the disks are pressing on the tape will necessarily engage and be supported by a plurality of' disks, bridging across between them .and avoiding objection- 4 able deformation or possible puncturing of the tape. 'I'he described feed means accordingly has the advantages of non-adherent multiple-point engagement with the gummed face of the tape 'with a total supporting effect approaching that of an uninterrupted surface, and at .the same time any drag on the tape is reduced to a minimum, by reason of the capacity of the supporting means to move in the direction of the tape feed, thereby enablingthe operator to start the tape over the moistener with the minimum of effort.

In the illustrated example, the several rotary units or roll elements 2|, 2| are of identical construction, so that but the one standardized form is required. As best seen in Fig. 5, and also in Figs. 1 and 3, the outer disk at one end of each roll islocated relatively close to the pintle while at the other end of the roll the shaft or hub portion 22 is projected beyond the outer disk, as at 22, to an extent at least equal to the width of one disk. Hence by reversing alternate roll units end for end in installing them in the bearing flanges 24 of the bottom plate the disks of 'adjoining units are offset laterally relative to each other and the desired intermeshing arrangement is obtained, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

In association with the feed and guide assembly of Fig. 4 I have provided quickly adjustable guide means, adapting the machine for readily interchangeable use with different widths of tape, for example, 1 inch and 11/2 inch Widths. Said means herein comprises a attened ring-like member or yoke 25 of general U-shape, including legs 26 the forward endsof which are bent inwardly as at 2'IA and'pivotally received in an eye or bearing 28 formed as by turning over the rear edge of a central and rearwardly extended portion 29 of the topplate I2. This guide 25 preferably is vbent as seen in Figs. 2 and 4 to conform it to the curvature of the guide lip I3 of the bottom plate |I.

When disposed as in the full line positions of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 this guide 25 is adapted to receive the tape of the narrower width between its side guiding portions or legs 26, the tape passing over the rear cross portion of the guide and entering the feed channel between the upper and lower plates I2 and |I. When it is desired to use the machine for dispensing a wider tape it is but necessary to fiip the guide 25 forwardly into the position as'indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, making the full width of the feed channel available. While in said non-use position the guide remains readily available and since it-is attached to the machine there is no likelihood of its being discarded and lost.

For severing the lengths of tape delivered through the feed channel, the front edge portion of the top plate 2 may be vextended and offset upwardly, as indicated at l2, to form a tear-ofi edge or stationary cutter.

As the tape passes forwardly from the feed channel its under, gummed face of the tape is moistened by any suitable means, such as a capillary moistener. I have herein shown for the purpose an inverted brush 30 set in a U-shaped clip 3| having an upwardly extended front wall to assist in supporting the brush, as at 32. Moisture is supplied to the brush from a tank or reservoir 33 for liquid, 4`the brush and clip being removably set into the tank at its front end, where it may be held in operative position as by means of a finger 34 struck out from the front wall of the clip 3| and engageable over the upper edge of the front wall of the tank. The latter is shaped and arranged for reception in the front compartment 6 where it is supported on shelves E, 6b on the housing.

It is desirable that the liquid of the tank be kept from contact with the rotary feed members 2| and other portions of the feed and guide assembly, while for the purposes of simplicity in lling and caring for the tank itis preferable that the latter be open at the top. Accordingly the tank is disposed substantially below the level of said feed members, and the compartment 6 of the housing is open at the bottom, between the supporting shelves 6B, 6b, so that it cannot be flooded by over-filling the removable tank, nor can the latter be discarded and the liquid placed directly in the compartment 6 itself.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 11, the further embodiment of the invention there shown is arranged to accommodate tape up to greater widths than in the `particular example ofV the preceding figures. It will be understood, however, that in either instance the dimensions may be varied as desired. For the purpose of the disclosure it may be assumed that Figs. 6 to 11 are on approximately a three-fourths scale, and that the machine illustrated accordingly will receive tape of widths up to say 3 inches, or will handle a plurality of narrower rolls of about that total width. Parts not otherwise referred to in connection with Figs. 6 to 11 may be substantially the same as in the preceding figures. As in the latter, the machine here comprises a housing including side walls 4|, a rear wall 42, a front wall 43 and an intermediate partition 44 dening rear and front compartments 45 and 46. The tape roll R is received in the rear compartment or Well 45, wherein it is rotatably retained in operative position as by the bottom rollers 41, 41. In connection with either of the forms a top cover -for the tape well may be supplied, set on or pivoted to the housing and shaped to enclose the projecting upper portion of a tape roll of usual size. As in the previous example, tape feeding and guiding means is provided above and as a cover for the front compartment. Said means in this instance comprises a main platform or bottom plate 50 consisting of a single piece of sheet metal or other material of generally rectangular form and constructed and arranged for bodily removal and replacement with a minimum of effort.

At the front end of the machine its side walls 4| are offset outwardly and formed with longitudinal recesses 4|a at their upper edges providing seats for lateral projections 5|, 5| at the corresponding portion of the bottom plate 50 whereby the front portion of the plate is supported at the desired level and the plate is also held against longitudinal displacement. Forwardly of said lateral projections 5| the side portions of the plate are extended as at 52, 52 to rest on the housing front wall and to provide between them an enclosure 53 for the brush moistener 85. The front edge of the plate, between said extension 52 and across the rear of said enclosure 53 may be upturned as at 54 to direct the tape accurately up to and across the brush.

Rearwardly of its projecting portions 5| the plate 50 is proportioned to be received between the housing side walls 4|, and is extended rearwardly to overlie and receive support from the partition 44. The rear edge of the plate 50 has a down-turned lip 55 to receive tape when underied from the roll R. The plate is additionally positioned, with capacity for upward swinging or bodily removal, as by means of open bearings or fingers 56 at the opposite sides of the lip 55 cooperable with a stud or studs 51 on the housing side walls.

Movable carrier means is provided on the plate 5D, similarly as in the preceding figures, for preventing adherence of the tape upon the bottom guide plate 50 and to facilitate the feeding action. The plate accordingly is formed with a centrally disposed opening 58 having along its side edges the downwardly projecting anges 59 for supporting said movable carrier means. As in the preceding example the latter comprises a plurality of rolls or rotary elements each including a series of axially aligned disks 60 on corresponding shafts 6I having end bearings 62 rotatably positioned in the flanges 59. Again as in the preceding instance, the outer disk 60 at one end of each roll is set in to a greater extent than that at the other end of the roll, leaving at one end the free hub or shaft portion Sla. The disks 69 are equally distributed along the rolls, a greater number being provided on each roll in this instance than in the preceding figures, to accommodate the Wider tapes. The several rolls have their bearings so disposed on the flanges 59 as to bring the disks into intermeshing relation, as clearly seen in Fig. 6, such arrangement being made possible, as previously, with the use of but a single standard form of roll, by reason of the offsetting of the hub portion 6|a at one end of the roll and the mounting of every other roll in end-to-end reversed position.

The guide plate 50 as a whole is additionally held in place by an upper plate or top guide 10 adapted to straddle the tape path. As best seen in Fig. 8 this upper plate is separately formed, of sheet metal or other material. At its sides it is turned down to provide tape edge guides 1| and side flanges 12 proportioned for positioning reception in the longitudinal recesses 4| a on the housing, Where they seat on the lateral portions 5| of the bottom plate 50. Spring clips or ngers 13 are formed at the outer edges of said flanges 12, each having a nubbin 14 engageable in arecess 15 in the corresponding side wall of the housing. The lower ends of said clip members 13 are turned out as at 16, for ease in bodily removing and replacing the top plate. As illustrated, the top guide and securing element 10 is structurally separate from the bottom plate 50, and may be removed without disturbing the latter. thus exposing the entire platform or underguiding surface of the feed channel. On removal of the upper plate, the lower one may be swung pivotally upward about its rear portion as an axis or it may '15 the preceding iigures.

be ,completely dismounted to afford full access to the front compartment 46. If preferred, however, the two parts may be secured together, as in the previous example or by spot welding or otherg 5 wise. The forward edge 'l1 of the top plate is constructed and arranged to serve as a cutter for severing the .tape and for this purpose may be serrated as shown in Fig. 6.

In the wider tapes there is less uniformity -in the manner of winding, thatis, as to whether the gummed face is rolled inside or outside. If the gummed face is voutermost the tape is led forwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the roll R and up over the4 guide lip 55 'similarly as in To accommodate the machine for the service of tape rolled gummed side in I may provide a guide roll 80 having endl bearings 8i journaled between ears 82 extending upwardly at the sides of the bottom plate 60. Gummed-side-in rolls are so placed in the well 45 that the tape will lead downwardly and forwardly in the manner indicated by the dotted line at the upper portion of Fig. 7. In such case the tape is conducted beneath the guide roll 80 which I guides it to and across the plate 50 and its :rotary carriers 60 for delivery forwardly beneath the top plate 10.

Similar moistening provisions may be employed as in the preceding figures but in this instance,

see particularly Fig. 7, the liquid reservoir is selfcontained in the housing, the front compartment 46 being provided with a closed bottom 46a. .A4

bottom of the recess being disposed at a level below the under portions of the disks 60.

The feeding and guide means of Figs. 6 to 10, as well as that of Figs. 1 to 5, readily lends itself to the associated provisionof a movable tape severing device, such as the guillotine type of knife or blade 90 of Fig. 11, appropriate slots 90a, 90b

50 being formed in the plates of the feed channel to permit the knife to engage and sever the tape. The knife as there shown may be carried at the forward end of a U-shapned arm 9| the two legs of which are supported for rocking movement on the end bearings 8| of the guide roll 80, or'directly on the housing if preferred. The knife is normally held in raised position substantially as' in Fig. 11 as by a spring 92, upward movement of the knife arm being limited as by a stop 93 thereon abutting the plate 50.

The feed and guide means as illustrated and described in connection with both embodimentsof the invention is also adapted for use in combination with a releasable feed stop cooperating with perforations or similar formations distributed along the length of the tape, as disclosed and claimed for example in the copending application Serial No. 118,722, flied January 2, 1937, now Patent No. 2,126,690. In my continuing copending application Serial No. 302,199, filed October 31, 1939, there are disclosed and claimed other embodiments of tape feeding and guiding means including one or more elements in accordance with a claim or claims of my present application.

.struction' for devices of the class referred to and wherein the several elements are adapted for assembly in 'various combinations and arrange- 5 ments, and hence that with a minimum of different, standardized parts and accordinglyreduced manufacturing cost I am enabled to supply machines tomeet differing requirements of the trade.

My invention is not limited to the exemplary 10 embodiments herein illustrated or described, and I set forth its scope in my following claims.

I claim:

Ina tape dispensing machine having a frame including a support for a tape roll and a tape de- 15 livering portion, in combination, a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said assembly comprising lower and upper plates providing a feed channel for the tape, one of said plates having a pair of oppositely dis- 20 posed upright ears, and a tape guide roll rotatably carried by said ears in position to direct tape downwardly beneath it for passage between said plates.

2. In a tape dispensing machine having a hous- 25 ing including a support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination therewith a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said assembly comprising lower and upper plates providing between them a 3 feed channel for the tape leading from the tape roll support, and lateral guide means for the tape entering said channel, said means comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending members adapted to receive the tape between them, a cross 35 piece connecting said members and adapted to underlie the tape passing between the latter, and means pivotally connecting lsaid members to one of the plates for swinging about an axis transverse of the tape path, to dispose said members 4o in operative tape-guiding position or in inoperative position out of the tape path.

3. In a tape dispensing machine having a housingincluding a support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination therewith a 45 feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said assembly comprising lower and upper plates providing between them a feed channel for the tape leading from the tape roll support, and a yoke-like guide element including substantially parallel legs, a cross piece at one end thereof and means at the other end connecting said elementv toone of said plates for pivoting about a horizontal axis transverse of the tape path, said element in one position adapted to receive and guide the tape between its legs, and in another position being clear ofthe tape path so as to permit the feeding of wider tapes.

4. In a tape dispensing machine having a housing includinga support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination therewith a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said a-ssembly comprising lower andV upper plates providing between them g5 a feed channel for the tape leading from the tape roll support, one of saidplates having thereon a transverse pivot formation, and a U-shaped tap'e guide element having its legs parallel with the tape path and having inturned portions pivotal- 70 ly received in said formation, whereby said guide element may readily be swung into or out of edge-guiding relation with tape entering the feed channel.

5. A. tape dispensing machine in accordance 75 with claim 1 wherein the tape guide roll includes an axial roll-supporting element mounted on said ears and adapted to serve also as the pivotal support for a vertically movable tape severing element.

6. In a. tape dispensing machine having a v frame including a support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination, a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion and comprising a bottom plate providing a table along which to advance the tape from the roll support, a separately formed top plate providing top and edge guides for the tape advanced along the bottom plate, the top plate having side portions adapted to seat on and retain the bottom plate and depending spring holding members carried by said side portions and releasably engageable with the frame, and a guide roll rotatably carried at the rear portion of the bottom plate, said guide roll adapted to receive beneath it and to direct across said plate the tape leading forwardly and downwardly from a tape i roll wound gummed side in.

7. In a tape dispenser, a frame, tape feeding and guiding means on the forward portion of the frame comprising a bottom plate, a top plate forming therewith a feed channel and means engageable with the frame to retain both plates in position thereon, an open formation in the top plate through which the tape may be engaged to advance it, a cut-out formation in the bottom plate below said open formation of the top plate, and a plurality of integral one-piece elongated rotary elements disposed in said cut-out formation of the bottom plate in a position transversely of the tape path and in a plane to support the forwardly feeding tape by engagement with its under face, each such rotary element being a structural unit composed of a single piece of metal formed with a plurality of axially spaced disk-like members concentrically disposed on a supporting axial member having end hub bearings received by the bottom plate, the disk-like members of one rotary element being in close proximity to those of the like adjoining element or elements.

8. An integral one-piece solid metallic rotary tape-supporting and feeding element for the feed path of a gummed paper tape dispenser, said element comprising a. metal shaft portion having end bearings and a series of concentric disk-like radial flanges coaxially formed along said shaft portion in uniform equi-spaced relation, the flange series as an entirety being nearer to one end bearing than to the other by approximately the width of one of the flanges. whereby said element is adapted to be installed in one or the endwise reverse position with respect to spaced end-supporting means therefor so as to present its individual anges in staggered relation to those of an adjacent like element to be installed inlthe endwise reverse position on said means.

9. In a tape dispensing machine having a frame including a support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination, a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said assembly comprising lower and upper plates providing a feed channel for the tape, one of said plates having a pair of oppositely disposed upright ears, a tape guide roll rotatably carried by said ears in position to direct tape downwardly beneath it for passage between said plates, an open formation in the upper plate through which the tape may be engaged to advance it, and a plurality of integral one-piece rotary elements underlying and extending transversely .of the tape path opposite said open formation so as to support the tape by contact with its underface when the tape is being advanced, said rotary elements each consisting of a supporting axial member having bearing, portions at its opposite ends and having integral\with it a plurality of radially projecting tape-contacting flange members concentrically disposed along it in spaced relation.

10. A feed guide assembly for tape dispensers, said guide comprising a bottom plate providing a feed channel floor, a top plate cooperable therewith to complete a feed channel and having a top opening for feeding access to the tape, a central recessed formation on the bottom plate, a plurality of tape-supporting circumferentially flanged roll elements each individually formed as a structural unit and disposed in and transversely of said recessed formation with their top portions in or near the plane of said bottom plate, depending flanges on one plate for rotatably mounting said roll elements, one of said pla-tes having behind said tape-supporting roll elements a pair of oppositely disposed upright ears, one at each side of the tape path, and a tape guide roll rotatably carried by said ears in position to direct tape downwardly beneath it for forward passage to said roll elements of the feed channel.

11. In a tape dispensing machine having a housing including a support for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination, a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, said assembly comprising lower and upper plates providing between them a feed channel for the tape leading from the tape roll support, lateral guide means for the tape entering said channel including a pair'of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to receive the tape between them and a cross piece connecting said members and adapted to underlie the tape passing between the latter, means pivotally connecting said members to one of the plates for swinging about an axis transverse of the tape path to dispose said members in operative tape-guiding position or in inoperative position out of the tape path, a top opening in the upper plate for feeding access to the tape, a central recessed formation on the lower plate, and a plurality of tape-supporting roll elements disposed in and transversely of said recessed formation and forwardly of said lateral guide means and in cooperative relation to the latter, one of said plates having depending fianges rotatably supporting said roll elements, each of the latter consisting of a structural unit including a longitudinal shaft portion with end bearings received in said flanges and a plurality of circumferential laterally projecting flange-like corrugations uniformly distributed along and concentric with the shaft portion.

l2. I n a tape dispensing machine having a housing including a support' for a tape roll and a tape delivering portion, in combination a feed guide assembly removably positionable on said delivering portion, vsaid assembly comprising lower and upper plaies affording a directing feed channel for the tape, one of said plates carrying a transverse pivot formation, a U-shaped tape guide element having its legs parallel with the F tape path and having inturned portions pivotally received in said formation, whereby said guide `element may readily be swung into or out of edge-guiding relation with tape entering the feed channel, vertically opposite open formations in said lower. and upper plates of the feed guide assembly,v and a plurality oftape-supporting roll elements transversely disposed in the openi'ormation of the lower plate, one oi the plates having laterally spaced longitudinal vertical flanges rotatably bearing said tape-supporting roll elements between them.

13. Feeding and guiding means for tape dispensing machines, comprising, in combination `with a frame having a support for a tape supply tically spacing it above the latter and providing side guides for the tape to be advanced between the two plates as a feed throat, said plates havlng interlocked projections and receiving formations tor attaching them in assembledrelation, 6 the front ends of the plates being vertically deiiected in substantial parallelism for tape directing purposes and theirrear ends being deflected away from each other-to form a receiving mouth at the rear of the feed throat, said deected porl0 tion of the bottom plate adapted to aid in positioning the assembly unit on the machine frame with capacity for upward swinging about its rear portion and for bodily removal, anda tape-supporting oor element having an upper portion i5 forwardly movable in said slot formation in feeding engagement with the under face of the tape.

TREV OR R. GAUTIER. 

